Rev Dr Sparky on Real/igion

Tag: Christianity

  • “Jesus is coming! Look busy!”

    Photo by Raphael Schaller on Unsplash Years ago, when I was the pastor of a small church, I wore a button reading, “Jesus is coming — look busy” all during the Advent season. The congregation loved it, since in a small church, everyone truly is especially busy during Advent. In addition to their own family’s Christmas preparations, they…

  • For the Church Ladies Who Always Bring a Covered Dish

    Photo by Gor Davtyan on Unsplash reluctant poetry What outrageous ecstasyis locked behind those silent lips? Still hands don’t clap or lift,but merely tremble in the Presence,weary from the work. Straight-backed supplicants,while rapt, do not cry out;and sometimes they may sing or smilebut do not keen or shout. And is this truly worship,bound so quiet and…

  • Truth — Where Did You Go?

    Photo by Rhii Photography on Unsplash It’s still here. We just got lost in lies. Everybody takes a shot at defining Truth (capital T) at one time or another: Philosophers, poets, politicians, pundits, priests, and other people whose names begin with “p”. Also artists, scientists, and bloggers, your auntie who knows why you’re not married, and that…

  • What’s the Big Idea?

    Photo by Tyler Lastovich on Unsplash No, seriously — what makes you who you are? Think of the last time you had to deal with someone whose worldview was clearly totally, 180 degrees, no-common-ground, different from your own. Each thinks the other is morally repugnant. Each shakes their head and asks, “Who even are you?” With luck, that person…

  • When Jesus’ Email Gets Spoofed

    Yeah. I’m still being misquoted. Photo by Tom Skarbek-Wazynski on Unsplash To: churchgoer15@jesusmail.com; seeker 2051@jesusmail.com; godbreather@jesusmail.com; believersinjustice@jesusmail.com; lovingfolk@jesusmail.com… Subject: Help! I think hackers hit me again! Hey, gang — Hope everyone is well these days. I just wanted to alert you all that I think my email account got hacked, again. You all remember when something like…

  • My Secret Names for G*D

    Photograph by Emily Morter on Unsplash. We all have questions. There are probably as many ways of prayer as there are people. Most religious traditions offer forms and formalities to be followed, and most have preferred languages and liturgies. But nearly all serious theologies or philosophies admit human words simply cannot define the Divine. Therefore,…

  • Hate to judge but love to condemn?

    Here’s what happens when we get it backward. Years ago, I was listening to a radio report of an impending local election on a special referendum. As I understood it, the city was going to vote on the Wet Bra Issue. Well, I was immediately offended, loudly proclaiming to my partner that this nonsense was…